Evaluating Efficacy and Safety of Sildenafil Citrate in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension

Background: PAH is the high blood pressure in the lungs due to the obstruction in the lung arteries. Sildenafil is an oral medication approved by WHO for the treatment of PAH. Aims and objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension. Materials and Methods: Present retrospective study was performed at Department of Medicine, Gandhi Medical College and associated Hamidia Hospital from Jun 2018 to Dec 2019. This study included 150 patients of PAH, they were given sildenafil (20 mg 3 times a day) for 16 weeks and evaluated on 6-min walk distance, WHO functional class and hemodynamic parameters. Results: Post treatment 6-min walk distance was improved form 396.20±92.10 meters to 470.10 ± 79.80 m (P<0.001), WHO functional class improved from 0 to 15 in Class 1, from 63 to 105 Class II, from 78 to 30 in class III and from 9 to 0 in class IV and mPAP reduced from 63.52 ± 17.28 mmHg to 59.05 ± 12.99 mmHg. Conclusion: Sildenafil is a safe, effective and inexpensive treatment option for PAH patients. Sildenafil therapy shown the improvements in exercise capacity, hemodynamic indices and overall survival of patients of PAH